Sokoto Catholic Diocese loses meningitis coordinator

The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has confirmed the death of its meningitis coordinator, Rev. Sr. Christy Umeadi, OP who died on Friday.

A statement on Sunday by the diocese, said, Sr. Christy died in an auto crash at Bakura, on her way back to Sokoto, about 30 minutes after setting out from Gusau, Zamfara State where she had led her team for immunization exercise against meningitis, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Gusau.

“She sustained a head injury and died on the spot along with one other passenger. Her remains have been deposited at the Usmanu DanFodio Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto morgue. Date for her burial will be announced at a later date,” the statement said.

“Her immediate family, the Dominican Congregation, the Diocese of Sokoto and all her patients are left in utter shock and disbelief but resigned to the will of God and trusting that our Sister will rise again at the resurrection.”

Catholic Bishop of the diocese, Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah in an interview with Daily Trust, said Sr. Christy took over the running of the Diocese’s clinic two years ago.

Kukah said, “The problems here are huge and to lose somebody of her calibre is quite catastrophic. I know that in faith we’ll pick up but she’ll be greatly missed. The four states – Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi – which make up the Diocese are the epicenter of the meningitis outbreak and she did a lot to ensure that as many as came forward were immunized against the disease. I am however happy that she died in her line of duty which was a great source of inspiration for her and all she did.”

Until her death, the late Umeadi who was a trained nurse headed the health department of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto and was the Assistant Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Gusau, Nigeria.